• Home / 
  • Learn / 
  • What is Loan-to-Value?
Dan Green
Dan Green

Dan Green

Homebuyer.com

Dan Green has helped millions of people achieve their American Dream of homeownership. Dan has developed dozens of tools, written thousands of mortgage articles, and recorded hundreds of educational videos. .

Dan Green

Dan Green

Homebuyer.com

Dan Green has helped millions of people achieve their American Dream of homeownership. Dan has developed dozens of tools, written thousands of mortgage articles, and recorded hundreds of educational videos. .

Lawrence Kansas Home - Loan-To-Value (Ltv)

This website discusses mortgage programs and how to qualify. Your eligibility may vary based on lender guidelines and investor overlays. Check with your lender for specific details.

Trusted Content
Homebuyer Logo

Trusted Content

This article was checked for accuracy as of November 4, 2024. Learn more about our commitments to accuracy and your mortgage education in our editorial guidelines.

Homebuyer Logo

Trusted Content

This article was checked for accuracy as of November 4, 2024. Learn more about our commitments to accuracy and your mortgage education in our editorial guidelines.

Updated: November 4, 2024

What is Loan-to-Value?

Loan-to-value (LTV) is the measure of a home’s mortgage balance to its market value, expressed as a percentage.

A Longer Definition: Loan-to-Value

Loan-to-value, often abbreviated as LTV, is a ratio that describes how much is owed on a home compared to what the home is worth. Along with credit scores and debt-to-income, loan-to-value is one of the three major components of a strong mortgage approval.

Loan-to-value is the opposite of how much equity a home buyer has in their home.

For example, when a first-time home buyer uses a no-downpayment mortgage to buy a home, that home buyer has 0% equity in their home. Therefore, the home’s LTV is 100 percent.

When a home buyer makes a three-percent equity down payment, the home’s LTV is 97%.

Loan-to-value generally does not affect mortgage rates and terms, except with standard conventional mortgages. A conventional mortgage with a high LTV is subject to higher interest rates and private mortgage insurance.

Conventional mortgage guidelines also restrict LTV based on specific loan traits:

  • Purchase or refinance transaction
  • 1-unit home or multi-unit home
  • Main residence, second home, or investment property
  • Standard or home affordability mortgage
  • Standard or high-balance mortgage loan limits

FHA, VA, and USDA loans do not change rates based on LTV.

We'll help you match a lender →

Maximum LTV, Common Mortgage Types

Mortgage Maximum Loan-to-Value
Conventional Mortgage Purchase 97%
Conventional Mortgage, High-Balance 95%
Conventional Mortgage, ARM 95%
Conventional Mortgage, 2-4 Unit 95%
Conventional Mortgage, High-Balance, 2-Unit 85%
Conventional Mortgage, High-Balance, 3-4-Unit 75%
Conventional Mortgage, Second Home 90%
Conventional Mortgage, Investment Property 85%
Conventional Mortgage, Investment Property, 2-4 Unit 75%
Conventional HomeStyle Mortgage, HomeReady 97%
Home Possible 97%
FHA Mortgage 96.5%
VA Mortgage 100%
USDA Mortgage 100%

Loan-to-Value: A Real World Example

First-Time Home Buyer Stories - Loan to Value (LTV)

Imagine a first-time home buyer using a 97% loan-to-value (LTV) conventional mortgage to buy their first home. Because the loan’s LTV exceeds eighty percent, the home buyer is required to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), which increases their monthly mortgage payment by a small but meaningful amount.

The mortgage lender tells the buyer that PMI is required until the loan-to-value ratio reaches 80 percent, based on conventional mortgage rules. They estimate this will be achieved in fewer than 3 years, due to home appreciation and regular monthly payments.

Each month, the home buyer monitors their mortgage balance alongside the home’s current market value. After two years and several months, the balance has decreased, the home’s value has increased, and the home buyer’s loan-to-value ratio falls below 80 percent.

The home buyer contacts their lender to request the removal of mortgage insurance. The lender reviews the loan-to-value ratio, verifies the borrower’s eligibility, then cancels the PMI.

Common Questions About Loan-to-Value

What is a good loan-to-value ratio?

There are no good or bad loan-to-value ratios. Loan-to-value is only one factor in a mortgage approval. In general, a lower LTV reduces a lender’s loan risk.

Can I get a mortgage with a high loan-to-value ratio?

Yes, you can get a mortgage with a high loan-to-value. Some mortgage programs are 100% LTV as a feature, including USDA mortgages and VA mortgages. Conventional mortgages allow up to 97% LTV. The FHA mortgage program is 96.5% LTV.

Will my loan-to-value go down after I buy a home?

Generally, a home buyer’s LTV decreases after purchase because the buyer makes regular mortgage payments, which reduces the principal balance. LTV also decreases as the home’s value increases. Should a home’s value decrease, its LTV can rise.

How do I calculate my loan-to-value?

Calculate loan-to-value by dividing the mortgage loan amount by the property’s value, then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.

Ready For Offers?

See which lenders are giving the best deals. Check out our listings now.

See Lenders
Homebuyer.com is not a lender or mortgage broker. We don't collect personal information or make credit decisions. We connect you with qualified lenders who may offer mortgage services.

Find lenders offering your perfect mortgage

We organize options. You choose who to work with.
Homebuyer.com is not a lender or mortgage broker. We don't provide quotes or credit decisions. We display links to lenders who may offer services.

Homebuyer.com is a mortgage information and comparison website. We are not a mortgage lender or broker and do not originate loans, collect personal information, or make credit decisions.

Homebuyer.com is operated by:
Growella Inc.
1311 Vine St, First Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
hello@homebuyer.com

Equal Housing Opportunity

Notices

Links

Mortgages

Tools

© 2021-2025 Homebuyer.com. Neither Homebuyer.com nor Growella Inc. is a mortgage lender or broker and neither originates loans nor makes credit decisions. The content on this site is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. Nothing on this website constitutes a loan commitment or interest rate lock agreement. Homebuyer.com does not endorse or control the content, policies, or practices of participating lenders or their external websites. Always ask for a Loan Estimate when evaluating any mortgage loan proposal. This site is not affiliated with any government agency. This website and our services are not available in Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, or West Virginia. This website is not approved for use in the State of New York. Equal Housing Opportunity.